Excavating-machine.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

W. E. BROWN.

EXOAVATING MACHINE.

ATTORNEY.

' UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

AR-DELL E. BROlVN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BROWN EXCA- VATING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

EXCAVATlNG-IVIACHIN E.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed May 13, 1904. Serial No- 207,728.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARDELL E. BROWN, of New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Excavating-Machine, of which the following is' a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in exczwating-machines; and the object of my invention is to produce a machine which is comparatively simple, in view of the fact that it has a wide range of work, and, further, to produce a machine which is adapted to propel itself forward, at the same time digging a trench or ditch of adesired width, and which will automatically take care of the material excavated.

Another object of my invention is to produce a machine in which the main excavator digs the trench or ditch, which mainex avator can be dropped effectively itsfiill depth, if necessary, and to providej connection with such main excavator asiipplemental carrier which will act to discharge the material hoisted by the main excavator.

Another object of.-my invention is to produce a machine which has its framework con- Structed S0 s t ,be readily adjustable to dif 'ferent widths, to the end that different-sized excavating-b ckets can be used on the same maohln t0 make trenches or ditches of varying widths.

My inv ntion is also intended to provide an effective nd convenient means for loosening 1' the irt or material to be excavated, which l s n g means is resilient and adapted to yi hen it comes in contact with a mate- 1} truction, as a heavy rock, a pipe, or slmllalithing; and my invention is also intended to provide a peculiarand effective link he hoisting-chains, which link is adapted arry the buckets conveniently and which hfl falso means for connecting with auxiliary ins, if desired.

in general, my invention is intended to pro- V le a simple and convenient machine which ill work rapidly in excavating and which an be easily controlled.

W ith these ends in view my invention consists of certain features of construction and ,-combinations of parts, which will be herein- ;after described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine embodying my invention, the lower end of the main excavator being shown in dotted lines as entering the ground. Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a detail cross-section of one of the excavatorshafts. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a broken detail perspective view of one of the buckets and its link connection. Fig. 5-is a detail rear elevation of one of my improved links, and Figs. 6 and 7 are broken details in sectional elevation and plan ofa picking or loosening device Whichcan be used in connection with the hoisting-buckets.

My invention is provided with a framework or platform 10, which can be made of channel-iron or other suitable material and which is provided with braces 11 and 11, connecting it with the supportingwheels 12, and these are intended,preferably, to run on a track and can be run conveniently on angle-iron rails 13, (see Fig. 3,) which are supported on stringers 14. Obviously the manner in which the frame is mounted is not important and it can be mounted in any convenient way or provided with any preferred type of wheel. The frame can also be braced by the bridge-braces 15, as shown in Fig. 1. An important feature of the frame is, however, the fact that it is laterally adjustable, and to this end the end pieces 10 of the frame are longitudinally slotted, as shown at 10*, to receive the bolts 16 or equivalent fastenings by which the frame ends are attached to the frame sides. This is best shown in Fig. 2. Extending longitudinally of the frame isa shaft 17, which projects from the frame ends and has its projecting ends preferably squared to receive a crankwrench or similar device, and the shaft is suitably journaled in the frame ends and alsoin bearing-boxes 18, which have laterally-extending arms 19, and these are slotted longitudinally, as shown at 20, (see Fig. 3,) to receive the fastening-bolts 21, by which the arms are connected to the cross-pieces 22, which extend inward from the frame sides, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. Thus when the frame sides are moved in or out, as presently explained, the bolts 21 can slide in the slots 20, and the bearings 18 will not be affected. To provide for the lateral adjustment, the shaft 17 is screw-threaded to fit the nuts 23 and 24, which are arranged in pairs, as best shown in Fig. 2, and thenuts and corresponding threaded portions of the shaft are of opposite pitch, so that when the shaft is turned the end nut of one pair will move oppositely to its corresponding nut. These ends are connected by links 25 with the frame, the outer ends being preferably pivoted in supporting-lugs 26. It will therefore be seen that if the shaft 17 be turned so that the nuts 23 move toward the frame ends and the nuts 24 toward the frame center the links 25 will push the sides of the frame outward, thus expanding it, while if the shaft is moved in the opposite direction the frame is contracted sidewise. Thus it is made easy to adjust the frame so as to carry buckets of different widths, and

therefore so as to dig trenches of desired widths.

The machine is provided with a main excavator 27, which moves up and down as required and which maintains an essentially vertical position at all times, and also with a supplemental carrier 28, which receives thB discharge from the main excavator 27. The excavator 27 is provided with a suitable vertical framework 29, which may be of any approved construction and which is preferably braced by the truss-rods 30. Theframework is constructed so as to provide a vertical way its full length, in which slide the bearingboxes 31, which carry the shaft 32 of the excavator, a similar shaft 32 being arranged at its foot, as shown in Fig. 1. These shafts 32 and 32 are similar and while not novel in themselves are necessarily telescopic, having a section 32" sliding within the outer section, as shown in Fig. 2. This is to provide for the lateral adjustment of the machine. The excavator, or rather the moving part thereof, is braced by the bridge-trusses, (shown in Figs. 1 and 2,) which are arranged at the sides thereof, and each comprises a central vertical rod 33, the side rods 34, and the cross-rod 35, (see Fig. 1,) the ends of this bracing-framework being secured in the usual manner to collars on the shaft 32 and 32; No novelty is claimed for this particular style of brace, and other suitable braces can be substituted. In order to stay the braces, however, arms 36 (see Fig. 2) project inward from the frame 10 and have slots 37 to receive, guide, and

' steady the rods 33. The buckets of the main excavator run over sprockets 38, which are of the conventional kind and are arranged at top and bottom of the excavator, as shown in Fig. 1. The chain of buckets is endless, as is usual in excavators, and each bucket comprises a back plate 39, (see Fig. 4,) which has its upper and lower edges bent, as at 40, so as to engage the cross-rods 41. The body portion of the bucket comprises the inclined front plate 42 and the end plates 43, which are flanged and attached to the back plate by riveting or otherwise, as at 44. The figure shows the flanges turned out; but they may as well be turned in. The front edge of each bucket is preferably serrated, as shown at 45, so that the teeth thus formed shall readily engage and penetrate the matter being excavated. In some sorts of digging an additional loosening or picking device is desirable, in which case I use the pick shown in Fig. 6. Here the adjacent rods 41 are shown provided with outwardly-projecting parallel brackets 41, and these are connected by a cross-rod 41", which can be provided with any necessary number of picks 41, each of which has a tailpiece 41 connecting, by means of a spring 41*, with one of the rods 41, and the spring serves to hold the pick in the desired position. If, however, it meets with too much resistance, it can be bent inward against the tension of the spring 41, so as not to strain the excavator or any of its parts too hard. The picks 41 project beyond the bucket edges, as shown in Fig. 7, where the position of the bucket in relation to the picks is indicated by dotted lines. Obviously these buckets can be connected by various forms of links; but I consider the link shown in Figs, 4 and 5 essential and important, although the link can also be used with other types of buckets. The link 48 has 0pposed hook-like portions 47, which pr j through the recesses 46 of the buckets and engage the rods 41, the link having its ck .formed into a main boss 49, adapted to enter the ordinary socket sprocket-wheel recesses, while the hooks 47 on the opposite side are separated by the projection 50, Which is Part) of the formation of the books 47 At the upper ends of the link are hooks 5 W h are pivoted, as shown at 52, and thes ks are adapted to engage the ordinary'chain belt, which can be made to run on the sprocketwheels and which will therefore serve to take the strain in ameasure from the buck 8 themselves. It will be noticed that when h 6X- oavator is in motion the buckets will SCOOP up the dirt and carry it as usual, the buckets discharging on their down trip.

The main excavator 27, or rather the bu part of it, drops by gravity; but it is raise by a cable 53, which at one end has a hook- (see Fig. 1,) adapted to engage a stud 55 On the frame 10, and the cable runs undernea a pulley 56 at the foot of the excavator, th upward over a guide 57, and thence connec with the winding-drum 58 of an ordinary hois ing-engine 59, which engine is suitably mount"- ed on the frame 10. It will be seen that bi? winding up the cable 53 the excavator will belifted or by releasing it the excavator will drop by gravity and dig its way into the ground.

\Vhen the buckets 42 go over the top of the excavator, they dump the dirt through the vertical chute 60, and to provide for the lateral adjustment of the machine this chute is provided with back plates 61, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) which are hinged and which therefore permit the chute to be made of the necessary width.

The top shaft 32 of the excavator connects by links 62 and 63, which are pivotally connected by the shaft 6% with the shaft of the engine 59, and the excavator is driven by sprocket-chains 65 and 66, connecting over suitable sprocket-wheel with the shaft 32. This driving mechanism I have not attempted to show in detail, as obviously it can be of any usual type and any driving scheme can be substituted for that which is shown.

hen the excavated material d rops through the chute'GO, it is received in the trough 61" and lifted by the supplemental or auxiliary carrier 67, which can be of any usual type of endless buckets and which is carried on the shafts 68 and 69, the latter being driven by a sprocket-chain 70, connecting with the engine, and the carrier being supported in a suitable framework 71. The carrier 67 discharges into a hopper 72, which is mounted on the frame 10, and this has a lateral dischargespout 73, which is controlled by adoor or gate 74, sliding in suitable ways 75.

hen the excavator is in operation, the car is propelled forward by a sprocket-chain 76, connecting the engine with the forward axle, or any other suitable driving nieans can be substituted.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have devised acomparativelysimple machine which is adapted to dig ditches of any desired depth or width within the scope of the machine and that it can be very easily controlled and operated. In regulating the depth of the ditch the operator can simply adjust the cable 53 so as to permit the excavator to drop to a certain depth only, and then when the machine is started it will move forward steadily, excavate the material from the ditch, and discharge it, as described.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An excavating-machine, comprising a portable and laterally-adjustable supportingframe, and excavating machinery carried by the frame.

2. An excavating-machine, comprising a laterally-adjustable portable frame, a main excavator mounted vertically in the frame and adapted to drop by gravity, and means for regulating the movement of the excavator.

3. In an excavating-machine, the combination with the main frame adapted for lateral expansion, of the shaft arranged longitudinally of the frame, the nuts mounted to travel on the shaft and to engage a screw-thread thereon, and means as the links connected with the nuts and frame to regulate the frame width by the movement of the nuts.

4:. In an excavating-machine, the combination with the laterally-adjustable frame, of'a rotary shaft mounted in the frame, and an op: erative connection between the shaft and the frame sides by which the latter can be moved in and out.

5. In an excavating-machine, the combination with the main frame having its sides adapted to move in and out in relation to each other, of the threaded shaft mounted longitudinally in the frame, the shaft having portions thereon of opposite pitch, the nuts held to engage the threaded portions of the shaft, and links extending from the nuts to the frame sides.

6. In an excavating-machine, the combination with the laterally-adjustable frame, the longitudinally-arranged shaft, and means for adjusting the frame, of the bearings for the shaft and the cross-pieces on the frame sides, the said cross-pieces having sliding connec tion with the bearings.

7 In an excavating-machine, the combination with the vertically-arranged main excavator movable'up and down in the machine, of an auxiliary carrier arranged to receive the discharge from the main excavator, and a covered chute leading from the said main excavator to the said carrier.

8. In an excavating-machine, the combination with the vertically-arranged, main exca vator adapted to drop through the machine, of the auxiliary carrier to receive the discharge from the main excavator, an adjustable chute leading from the said excavator to the said carrier, and a hopper to receive the discharge from the said carrier.

9. In an excavating-machine, the combina tion with the adjustable frame, of the main excavator vertically mounted therein, and a laterally-adjustable chute inclosing the d umping portion of the main excavator.

10. The combination with the excavator having a series of buckets linked together to form a chain, of brackets carried by the bucket connections and extending outward between the several buckets, and picks carried by the brackets and extending adjacent to the bucket edges.

11. The combination with the excavator, comprising a series of buckets, of the picks resiliently mounted in advance of the buckets.

12. The combination with the excavatingsocket -enga,qing boss on the opposite face, buckets, of the brackets projecting from the and a, second series of hooks adapted to enbucket-supports, the cross-rod connecting the gage the chains. brackets and the spring-pressed picks mounted on the cross-rod.

13. In a bucket-chain apparatus, the here- Witnesses: iii-described link comprising a body portion V. B. HUTCHINSON, having bucket-engaging hooks on one face, a JOHN T. CAROLAN.

WARDELL E. BROWN. 

